How do these cut outs look
 

chasing a phantom leak on our boat...has me paranoid about transom rot. Take a look at the cut outs and let me know what you think. Already tried banging around on the back. All sounds solid.

https://i.imgur.com/H9xbEQT.png

This is before we sanded and applied penetrating epoxy...

https://i.imgur.com/n2X8eaG.png

Looks fine to me. You'll know in a hurry when there not. It's like grabbing a hand full of the inside of an old rotted tree stump. It's not soft at all is it?

jabbed with a screw driver...solid.

Looks just fine

Top left of that pic looks questionable to me.. looks like it's delaminating a little, could be pic but look at that hard...a little is not a huge deal, also if you resin then paint with bilge paint, resin will still absorb water over time

looks ok from the pics, seal them better with a good epoxy paint

looks fine to me too.shifter boot maybe,how are the bottom bolts?

there was a little delamination in that one local area.. Ended up applying resin in that area and clamping to cure over night. It was rock solid after curing.

We used a penetrsting epoxy to seal the cut outs...that should work and what most suggested when I researched it.

Everything is new at this point. Had to do top steering pin so when I took everything apart both bellows were done, block off plate o ring, bottom trim block gasket, and steering seals.

The assembly itself is nearly nearly brand new. Running out of ideas

all the bolts are good. All tight. I even added bead of silicone around assembly to rule out main seal. Still leaking. Smh.